For Francis Brunn, legendary juggler with a graceful disregard for gravity.

To James Signorelli, moving mountains across the seas by keeping an eye on the right wind …

You taught me how to secure a bowline with one hand.

And

to Cordia-Gypsy, who just learned to place one foot in front of the other, wishing her the most celestial path.

Contents

Dedication

Title Page

Introduction by Paul Auster

ON THE HIGH WIRE

Definitions

Warning

Setting Up the Wire

The First Steps

Walking

Running

The Quest for Immobility

Barefoot

The High Wire Walker’s Salute

Exercises

Without a Balancing Pole

The King Poles

Alone on the Wire

Practice

The Wire Walker at Rest

The Blindfolded Death Walk

Fakes

The Performance

Rehearsal

Struggle on the Wire

The Wind

Falls

Great Crossings

Perfection

Fear

Afterthought

Philippe Petit, High-Wire Artist

The Wire-Walker’s Bookshelf

Also by Philippe Petit

Copyright